Emory Bellard Obituary

DALLAS (AP) - Emory Bellard, a former Texas A&M and Mississippi State coach credited with developing the wishbone offense when he was an assistant at Texas, died Thursday. He was 83.

Cathy Capps, director of the Texas A&M Lettermen's Association, said Bellard died at a care facility in Georgetown in Central Texas. She said Bellard had Lou Gehrig's disease.

Bellard was on Darrell Royal's staff at Texas in 1968 when the Longhorns developed a formation with three running backs that came to be known as the wishbone.

He coached at Texas high schools for more than two decades and won three state titles. His success landed him on the Texas staff, and while other assistants relaxed during the summer before the 1968 season, Bellard was busy trying to figure out a way to utilize a strong group of running backs after Texas endured three straight mediocre seasons.

Bellard's idea was to put a third running back a yard behind the quarterback, flanked by two more running backs a few yards behind to form what looked like a "Y." Quarterbacks had three options - hand off to the fullback, keep the ball or pitch to one of the other running backs.

The wishbone was similar to the two-back veer, which Houston was using to become a threat in the Southwest Conference. The Longhorns rode Bellard's modification to a national championship in 1969, and Oklahoma made the offense nearly unstoppable in the 1980s.

"People all over the country and different levels of football adopted that offense," said former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum, who was hired as an assistant by Bellard in 1972. "I think he was proud that the game he cared so much about, that he was able to make a significant contribution to it."

Slocum also credited Bellard with being among the first football coaches in Texas to recruit black players.

"I don't think he ever got the full credit for what he really did," Slocum said.

Bellard had a 48-27 record in seven years at Texas A&M before resigning during the 1978 season. He led A&M to three straight bowl games, including a win in the 1977 Sun Bowl. He was 37-42 in seven seasons at Mississippi State.

DALLAS (AP) - Emory Bellard, a former Texas A&M and Mississippi State coach credited with developing the wishbone offense when he was an assistant at Texas, died Thursday. He was 83.

Cathy Capps, director of the Texas A&M Lettermen's Association, said Bellard died at a care facility in Georgetown in Central Texas. She said Bellard had Lou Gehrig's disease.

Bellard was on Darrell Royal's staff at Texas in 1968 when the Longhorns developed a formation with three running backs that came to be known as the wishbone.

He coached at Texas high schools for more than two decades and won three state titles. His success landed him on the Texas staff, and while other assistants relaxed during the summer before the 1968 season, Bellard was busy trying to figure out a way to utilize a strong group of running backs after Texas endured three straight mediocre seasons.

Bellard's idea was to put a third running back a yard behind the quarterback, flanked by two more running backs a few yards behind to form what looked like a "Y." Quarterbacks had three options - hand off to the fullback, keep the ball or pitch to one of the other running backs.

The wishbone was similar to the two-back veer, which Houston was using to become a threat in the Southwest Conference. The Longhorns rode Bellard's modification to a national championship in 1969, and Oklahoma made the offense nearly unstoppable in the 1980s.

"People all over the country and different levels of football adopted that offense," said former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum, who was hired as an assistant by Bellard in 1972. "I think he was proud that the game he cared so much about, that he was able to make a significant contribution to it."

Slocum also credited Bellard with being among the first football coaches in Texas to recruit black players.

"I don't think he ever got the full credit for what he really did," Slocum said.

Bellard had a 48-27 record in seven years at Texas A&M before resigning during the 1978 season. He led A&M to three straight bowl games, including a win in the 1977 Sun Bowl. He was 37-42 in seven seasons at Mississippi State.

Guest Book Highlights

"May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow."- Robert C or Bob Steger Jr '47 (Brownwood, TX)

"Emory came to state the year after I left. State has been my school since. Went to Unmiv Tn to med school but I still bleed maroon. Emory was a coach, a gentleman and a friend to all espically his men..Hope this gets to family an I have just found..."- James Long (Booneville, MS)

"Coach Bellard was a great coach, but more importantly, a great Man. I shall miss him. My sincerest condolences to the Bellard family."- Fred Martinez (Emeryville, CA)

"THANK YOU COACH FOR COMING TO MSU AND SHOWING US HOW TO BE CHAMPIONS ON AND OFF THE FIELD, YOU TAUGHT US HOW TO BELIEVE AND RECEIVE, WE MADE A STATEMENT BEATING NO 1 RANKED ALA 6-3 STILL ONE OF THE GREATEST WINS IN MSU HISTORY. THANK YOU FOR BEING A..."- TYRONE KEYS (TAMPA, FL)

"He put the Breckenridge Buckaroos on the map. He put the San Angelo Bobcats on the map. His offense put the Longhorns on the map and the Aggies too. He was one in a million!"- Fred Lagrasta (Bellaire, TX)

Other obituaries

Published in Austin American-Statesman on February 11, 2011

Former Texas A&M head football coach Emory Bellard, who as a Texas assistant coach in the late 1960s developed the wishbone offense for the Longhorns, died early today after a long battle with Lou...
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Published in Austin American-Statesman on February 13, 2011

Emory D. Bellard Emory D. Bellard, age 83, passed away at the Tiffin House in Georgetown, TX, on February 10, 2011, of Lou Gehrig's Disease/ALS. He was born December 17, 1927, in Luling, Texas,...
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Published in GoSanAngelo from February 13 to February 14, 2011

GEORGETOWN Emory D. Bellard, age 83, passed away at the Tiffin House in Georgetown, Texas, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, from Lou Gehrig's Disease/ALS. He was born Dec. 17, 1927, in Luling, Texas, to...
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